Use TI process to export/import text files to Linux server

[harrytm1]

Hi all,

I have a requirement to develop numerous TI processes that:
1) either export or import CSV text files
2) the files are to be placed in a FTP location in a Linux server
3) for export, the TI shall 1st generate the file and then FTP into the FTP location, then call a shell script that will import the data in the export file into another system
4) for import, the TI shall read the file directly from the FTP location and import the data into TM1 by updating dimensions or CellPut.

Is it possible to write a FTP script in TI to perform the FTP function and call a shell script as described in (3)?

Is it possible to treat a FTP location in a Linux server as a datasource as described in (4)?

I have never use TI to FTP or connect to Linux, so I need all the advise I can get. Many thanks!

[Alan Kirk]

I have a requirement to develop numerous TI processes that:
1) either export or import CSV text files
2) the files are to be placed in a FTP location in a Linux server
3) for export, the TI shall 1st generate the file and then FTP into the FTP location, then call a shell script that will import the data in the export file into another system
4) for import, the TI shall read the file directly from the FTP location and import the data into TM1 by updating dimensions or CellPut.

Is it possible to write a FTP script in TI to perform the FTP function and call a shell script as described in (3)?

Is it possible to treat a FTP location in a Linux server as a datasource as described in (4)?

TI is quite limited in what it can do with files. It can create one, it can delete one, it can check for the presence of one, but that's about it.

However the TI function ExecuteCommand can be used to call external batch files or executables which can handle those kinds of processes. For example, if you have an appropriate FTP client application on the server (one which can be called from a command line, and passed parameters) you could use ExecuteCommand to call that application and have it move the files to or from the Linux server as needed.

[David Usherwood]

Life would be easier for you if you got the Linux admins to set up one or more Samba shares with the relevant permissions. These work the same way as Windows shares so you can read or write files directly.

[harrytm1]

thanks both for your valuable advice.

I was wondering if access granted to a FTP location in Linux server can be treated like a mapped network drive in a Windows server. If yes, then I can just map it in the server. IT did not provide me with the IP address or server name of Linux server, so I guess I'll have to check with them.

[David Usherwood]

I hope they are going to give you the hostname or address, because you'd need them for the FTP approach
As far as I know there isn't a way to transform an FTP connection into something TM1 can see. However there might be, so it's worth some googling. There are lots of file managers which will talk to FTP sites as if they were mapped drives.
I suspect IT will tell you that FTP is more stable for moving large files over WANs than Samba and I'd agree with them if they did.
The scripting isn't that bad so maybe roll with what they want.